ing good could come of Nazareth. In this way, four of our
number became decided politicians, not only entertaining a sovereign
contempt for the sides they respectively opposed, but beginning to feel
sensations approaching to hatred for each other.

{bleaching grounds = open spaces where newly woven linen is spread to
whiten in the sun; legitimist.... = this paragraph refers to
controversies, before the French "July Revolution" of 1830, between
rightist ("cote droit" = right side) legitimists, who read the official
"Moniteur" newspaper and supported the absolutist Bourbon monarchy of
King Charles X, and leftist ("cote gauche" = left side) liberals, who
read "Le Temps" and argued for reform or revolution; "nothing good
could come of Nazareth" = from the Bible, John, I, 46: "Can any good
thing come out of Nazareth"}

The reader will readily understand that these feelings lessened toward
the centre of the piece, acquiring most intensity at the extremes. I
may be said, myself, to have belonged to the centre gauche, that being
my accidental position in the fabric, when it was a natural consequence
to obtain sentiments of this shade. It will be seen, in the end, how
prominent were these early impressions, and how far it is worth while
for mere pocket-handkerchiefs to throw away their time, and permit
their feelings to become excited concerning interests that they are
certainly not destined to control, and about which, under the most
favorable circumstances, they seldom obtain other than very
questionable information.

{centre gauche = center left, i.e., moderate left}

It followed from this state of feeling, that the notion we were about
to fall into the hands of the unfortunate daughter of Louis XVI excited
considerable commotion and disgust among us. Though very moderate in my
political antipathies and predilections, I confess to some excitement
in my own case, declaring that if royalty WAS to be my lot, I would
prefer not to ascend any higher on the scale than to become the
property of that excellent princess, Amelie, who then presided in the
Palais Royal, the daughter and sister of a king, but with as little
prospects as desires of becoming a queen in her own person. This wish
of mine was treated as groveling, and even worse than republican, by
the cote droit of our piece, while the cote gauche sneered at it as
manifesting a sneaking regard for station without the spirit to avow
it. Both were mistaken, however; no unwo